Monday, June 09, 2008

Dublin got their senior championship season off to a resounding success after a stuttering start. The Dubs went into the game with 2 championship debutants, Eamonn Fennell & Paddy Andrews and it was the O'Tooles man who played a stormer in the 1st period in keeping Dublin to the fore.

Louth got out 1st kicking the 1st score and the Hill was quiet when the Dublin early possession failed to return a sufficient dividend. Mossy Quinn was called upon for hisfree taking ability in this period & he kicked comfortably throughout. Also up front the crowd were given hints of what was to come as Alan Brogan shrugged off his marker kicking a lovely score after a field length move. It could also have been better wth the Louth keeper pulling off two extraordinary saves to deny Paddy Andrews & Brogie, while determined work by Shocko denied Louth a goal before Ross McConnell eventualy cleared his line. At times the Dubs were under pressure in the back lines & one hopes this was no more than 1st game rust.

It was 0.07-0.05 in favour of the Blues at half time & when Louth then kicked over again at the start of the 2nd half there may have been nerves on the Hill. However what followed next can only be best described as a tornado with Pillars men recording 1-15. Alan Brogan was superb in this half & ended up with 1-07 his goal coming from a great 1-2 with Jason Sherlock. A special mention to Jayo who worked tirelessly before eventually being rested. His passing was sublime & kicking 2 points as well. Shane Ryan was also to the fore in the 2nd half leaving Pillar with som great selection headaches for the next day.

The dominance of the Dubs allowed Pillar to empty the bench towards the end and even the few minutes game time will hopefully stand to the likes of Kevin Nolan & Philip McMahon if called upon later in the summer.

Next day up it will be a much sterner challenge from Westmeath & with Ciaran Whelan, Bernard Brogan, Diarmuid Connolly & Paul Flynn then available interesting selection choices to be made. A final footnote when last did Dublin tak to the field with two keepers on the sideline as with Savo 2nd choice yesterday it was interesting to see John Leonard stripped with an out field shirt.